Michael Mortensen MCIP, RPP
Founder & Director
Michael launched Liveable City Planning Ltd in Vancouver BC in 2016 with 20+ years of experience delivering transformative mixed-use real estate projects.
As a developer and a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners, Michael understands private and public interests. In Vancouver, he worked in public service for a decade, first with CMHC Assisted Housing, and subsequently with the City of Vancouver as a Senior Planner with the City’s Major Projects team. His private sector experience includes numerous projects at scale in Greater Vancouver, Toronto, and Los Angeles, and international experience leading mixed use development teams in Grosvenor’s London UK head office (2013-2016).
Michael has served on the City of Vancouver’s Development Permit Board and the City of Surrey’s Urban Design Panel. He is an Adjunct Professor with UBC’s Sauder School of Business, teaching an MBA course in Real Estate Economics, Pro Formas, and Urban Planning.
Service & Affiliations
President: LAI Land Economics Society
www.lai.org
Director: Urbanarium
www.urbanarium.org
Member: Urban Development Institute
https://udi.bc.ca/
Member: Canadian Institute of Planners / PIBC
https://www.cip-icu.ca/
Awards & Recognition
Urban Land Institute 2021 Global Award of Excellence
Michael managed an innovative co-design public involvement process and comprehensive master plan for the 1300 Block of Marine Drive. On the strength of our vision and public involvement process, the District of West Vancouver opted to sell their half of the block to Grosvenor Americas. Design: James KM Cheng Architecture.
BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER: LARGEST REAL ESTATE DEALS IN 2022
LCP led the master plan and rezoning approval for the redevelopment master plan for the 6-acre Bristol Estates in Surrey BC. The project designed by ZGF and PWL Landscape Architects yielded two million square feet of development in five towers: 2,000 homes in condo, below-market rental and market rental tenure, a daycare and a local-serving retail node. The site was sold in 2022 to a local development company for $270M (BIV’s #2 deal in 2022).
Member: Urban Development Institute
https://udi.bc.ca/
Member: Canadian Institute of Planners / PIBC
https://www.cip-icu.ca/
In Greater Vancouver, we have to grow up, not out. We can create highly liveable cities and neighbourhood centres by increasing the intensity of land use while adding commensurate amenity.
— Michael Mortensen, Liveable City Planning.